Smile 2 was the rare horror sequel to actually surpass the original, with a go-for-broke performance by Naomi Scott that I’ll put up against anything we saw that year. Parker Finn’s franchise has been a hit, earning more than $350M in total, and setting the stage for a third film at Paramount Pictures. Now we know who will be at the helm of Smile 3.
According to Variety, Smile 3 will be directed by David Bruckner. He’s well-versed in the genre with The Ritual, The Night House, and 2022’s Hellraiser remake. It’s a busy time for Bruckner, who also has a remake of The Blob in the works at Warner Bros., another film titled Mice set up at A24, and an adaptation of The Caretaker led by Sydney Sweeney.
While Finn is busy working on his Possession remake with Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner, he’ll provide a story framework for Smile 3 that will then be scripted by Verity co-writer Nick Antosca.
The first movie, released in 2022, centered on a therapist who is tormented by an evil entity that attacks people who have witnessed death. The sequel upped the ante with Naomi Scott as a pop star who is possessed by the same demonic spirit, which makes her latest tour a bit of a roller coaster.
The Smile movies have been loosely connected, with characters crossing over for brief appearances. The stories stand on their own, though, so we should expect to see new additions to the franchise when casting begins.
